Raged: See the comments on raging in the previous verse.

Your arrogance has come into my ears: A more natural wording of this line may be “I have heard your arrogance.” The Hebrew word translated arrogance may be better rendered “pride” (Knox) or “insolence” (New International Version). In the Masoretic Text your arrogance is literally “your self-confidence” or “your tranquility” (shaʾananka in Hebrew). Many scholars, however, suggest that the Hebrew word should be slightly changed to read “your roaring” (shaʾavanka in Hebrew), which would make it parallel to the first part of this verse. This Handbook recommends that the reading in the Masoretic Text be followed with the word arrogance (also New Revised Standard Version, New Living Translation, Revised English Bible).

I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth: While translators may possibly be familiar with the image of putting a bit in the mouth of a horse to tame it, the first of these two images may be more puzzling. Apparently it is an allusion to the way the Assyrians treated their enemies after they had been defeated, as is known from Assyrian texts and monuments. A metal hook was placed through the nose, or sometimes the lip, of the enemy and a rope tied through the hook would permit the captors to lead the captives wherever they wanted. The Assyrian king would now be treated in the same way as he and his army had treated their enemies. He would then be completely submissive to the will of Yahweh. Some may prefer to translate “I will treat you as my prisoner.” But if a more literal rendering is retained, it will probably be a good idea to add a footnote explaining the meaning.

I will turn you back on the way by which you came: Turn you back is literally “cause you to turn back.” The Hebrew verb used here is the same one that is translated “repent” in other contexts (for example, 1 Kgs 8.47-48). Instead of conquering the city of Jerusalem as expected, Sennacherib would have to go back home by the same road that he had taken to come to Jerusalem.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .